USMNT: Transition period in full swing

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After missing the 2018 World Cup and still without a permanent coach, the USMNT is very much a team in transition.

Hope and dreams of a bright future are very different than the results they bring.

For the United States Men's National Team, all three will eventually one day coincide.

We knew after failing to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, changes were going to come for the USMNT. It began a few years prior -- during qualifying -- when Bruce Arena replaced Jurgen Klinsman as the coach.

Arena has left as well, with interim coach Dave Sarachan leading the way of this youthful team until a permanent solution is found.

The future of the program was once again on display in a recent match against Brazil. Playing versus a team who was using the majority of their World Cup squad, the United States fared valiantly. A 2-0 loss to Brazil might be disappointing, but young players gained valuable top-level experience.


Players like forward Bobby Wood and defender John Brooks have been contributors for years and both are still young. Others, like midfielders Tim Weah, Weston McKennie, and Tyler Adams, plus defender Antonne Robinson, are earning important minutes, even if these games are friendlies.

This game, of course, was played without an injured Christian Pulisic.

Preparing for a run at the 2022 World Cup is on the agenda for the USMNT and it shows with the younger lineups. We already knew their would be new faces as qualifying began, with changes at goalkeeper for sure. Clint Dempsey and Jermaine Jones added their cleats to the box, both recently retiring. And even stalwarts like Michael Bradley (34 in '22) and Jozy Altidore (32 in '22) might see their roles reduced.

The youth will continue to play an important role, with upcoming friendlies in the United States against Mexico (9/11) and Colombia (10/11). The team travels to England for a match with the Three Lions on November 15.

All of this is in prep for their next major tournament, which will be the Gold Cup in the summer of 2019. (Sorry. No Copa America this time around).

There is hope for the national team. A tie against France and the effort against Brazil prove as much. Now, it's time to start scoring goals and get back into the win column.

Clint Dempsey

Clint Dempsey was a master of his craft, plain and simple.

Cliche or not, he did not rely only on his great skills. The man worked hard and overcame health issues in becoming one of the greatest players the men's national team has ever seen.

Playing in three World Cups (first appearing in 2006), Dempsey ended up with 141 career international caps and 57 goals. He is currently tied with Landon Donovan in that regard, leaving two of the greatest strikers of the last 25 years sharing the scoring throne.

It was pretty disappointing to not see him play in a fourth World Cup but a few were holding a slim hope he might make it to 2022. Dempsey would have been 39, though, and his role had essentially been reduced to super-sub over the past couple of years.

For a full look at Dempsey's career, be sure to visit his Wikipedia page.

Jermaine Jones

Jermaine Jones may have not had the same impact as Dempsey, but he was still integral to the USMNT for a good five-year span. Overall, after using his dual-citizenship to switch from Germany to the United States, Jones made 69 international appearance for the United States.

An injury kept him from participating in the 2010 World Cup, but his impact was certainly felt in 2014 (and the games leading up to the event). He had many memorable moments, notably, this goal against Portugal:


The last few years were marked by injuries for Jones and he would have been 41 by time the next cup rolled around. Still, his leadership and passion will be missed going forward.

All good runs must come to an end and the USMNT are beginning the crossover to the next generation. Dempsey and Jones have moved on and other veterans will likely not be around come 2022. 

And, with Dempsey retired, we know one thing for sure: It's Pulisic's world now.

photo credit: flickr.com

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